Palm Trees Grow in Desserts

"The Scriptures say that the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree--but we need to remember that palm trees don't grow in beautiful forests, but in the desert. We are called to bear fruit--but we must recognize that the fruit tree grows in valleys, not on mountaintops." (Tim Hansel-You Gotta Keep Dancin')

I find that an interesting thought. God is always saying in His word to bear fruit, but I hadn't realized how often the fruit bearing trees on this earth are stuck in places that might be considered less desirable than some other option. We are expected to bear fruit even when we are walking through valleys and deserts in our lives. 

I guess that's a good thing. As a Christian if we aren't struggling we are probably doing something wrong. If the devil doesn't have to attack us to keep us from bearing God's fruit--because we aren't bearing it anyway--he might just let us believe everything is good. 

That might be one of the most dangerous things when it comes to faith. An easy life can easily make us believe we are capable of doing it on our own--something that is so far from the truth.

As spoken by Jesus, quoted by John, "If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you: 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours." -John 15:18-20 HCSB

We are not of this world. In that case, we should rejoice in our sufferings because the world that hated our Lord hates us in the same way and for the same reason.

"And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that afflictions produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." -Romans 5:3-5 HCSB

So we should "Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 HCSB